I suffer from Trichotillomania! please someone help.?

Question

I've been suffering from trichotillomania since i was 12 I am now 20 and it has gotten worse. For people that have not heard about this its the urge to pull your own hair out.The only hair i pull is on the top of my head. I am now wearing a wig because of it. I feel so bad after i see my head with bald patches.I always have to think to myself that I need to stop so that I never have to were a wig again. The only person that knows about my problem is my boyfrind i have been with 4 years now.It is so hard for me to be going through this.I dont have the money to buy real expensive wigs the one i use cost me $22 and it is getting king of damaged from the back now.I also have real low self-esteem.A lot of people say im beautiful but they havent seem the real me. I know that I should go to a doctor or something but I have heard it doesn't always work for everyone to get help.It is too emmbarresing for me to tell anybody about this problem. I sometimes think it will never end because i am always so stressed out i have a 2 year old with cerebral palsy. I would appreciate any advise. Please tell me about the way you handled it and what you did for your hair to grow out faster?What kind of doctor should i see? can my family doctor put me on some type of medication?

Answer 1

The first place to get information about trichotillomania is TLC (www.trich.org).  There are also lots of support groups (try Yahoo groups and search for "trichotillomania" online).  There really is no known medication for trich though some people find medications useful for accompanying conditions such as depression.  My advice would be to research as much as you can and join an online support group to share experiences and ideas with others who are going through the same thing.  

Answer 2

ive heard that hypnotherapy can be very effective.  ive heard that thaey can help ppl with habits such as biting fingernails an other stuff like that

i found a link that could have some more good info...

Answer 3

It looks like this is a stress related problem, among other things. It also sounds like you have gotten more strees from having a child with Cerebral palsy. So that could be why it has gotten worse instead of better.

This might be something you can start to try yourself to help yourself stop. Good Luck!:

Habit Reversal Training or HRT, has been shown to be a successful adjunct to medication as a way to treat TTM.[10] With Habit Reversal Training, doctors train the individual to learn to recognize their impulse to pull and also teach them to redirect this impulse. As a part of the behavioral record-keeping component of HRT, patients are often instructed to keep a journal of their hair-pulling episodes. They may be asked to record the date, time, location, and number of hairs pulled, as well what they are thinking or feeling at the time. This can help the patient learn to identify situations where they commonly pull out their hair and develop strategies for avoiding episodes.

Answer 4

I used to do hairdressing and we used to have a regular client who used to come in and she had this too.  Sometimes she would deny that anything was wrong with her and act surprised if anyone queried the on the bald patches and other times she would mention it before anyone cut her hair and admitted to pulling it out herself - she said she didn't know why she did this and wouldn't seek help either.

This is a psychological problem not a medical problem.

Try cognitive therapy - or ask your doctor to be referred to a specialist in this area.

This can be cured - hopefully you haven't caused to much permanent damage - sometimes the hair doesn't grow back

Good luck

Answer 5

ICD=impulse control disorder,you will have to get your hands and mind in control  before you can control this behavior, its mind over matter you mind and it matters.Do you not realize you are doing this? Or is it just a habit? You have to feel this since pulling hair hurts this enough for me to stop. Or have you been ding this for so long you really don't feel it? Is it the color, style, texture of hair that started you to do this ? If so all that could be changed  You have to stop this if keep doing you may become completely bald if you pull hair follicle out as well there is no chance of hair coming back in this will leave you to choice's hair transplants or wigs.Get a shaggy  stuffed toy and pull all the shag out when feel like pulling something. This will keep hands busy and away from hair.Are you stressed lonely, moody unhappy? All this could trigger you to start to pull on your hair as well.This can't feel good. Maybe you should seek out a dermatologist nothing to be embarrassed about, these  are doctors  they have seen cases like yours before and most have been worse i'm sure they went to school for this and know how to treat people and have some ideas what to do. There may be meds for this not sure. you may also need to see a professional as well to get to the bottom of this for you  to help you figure out why you started and how you can stop.I've never heard or read any where of any special treatments for this any where. Sorry  Just beware when yo do this like when you read, talk, watch the TV. you have to know when you do this and control the erge to do so. Stop ASAP and find something else to do with your hands quick!!

Maybe a support group could help you and you could also talk to others who are going threw the same thing you are and get info from them how they are dealing with it.and what they have done to help over come this habit. You could always keep short hair or wear a tight fitting cap. Have b/f family friends all tell you when you start and this may very well make you stop. Make a list why you want to stop and when you either catch your self or someone tells you to stop get your list and read this could also help you stop. I'am sorry to read you are haveing this in your life but maybe with some answers from here or your doctor you will get alot better good Luck dear.